The Right Balance

I just finished baking a dump cake about an hour ago. I know, I know. That doesn't sound very inviting unless you already know what a dump cake is. Don't let the name fool you. It is really good. A good friend of mine posted this recipe on Facebook a couple weeks ago. A little bit of this. A little bit of that. A lot of something else. Mix it up and bake it. So very easy, not to mention delicious.

Rachel's "baking soda cake"

Rachel played the part of an aspiring cook as well. I think she is going to be the kind of cook who likes to create her own innovative dishes rather than strictly follow someone else's recipes. In any case, she had a very definite idea of what she wanted to make. I decided to let her experiment.

She, too, added a little bit of this and a little bit of that. She, too, put a lot of something else into the batter. Unfortunately, one of the things she added in a small amount was sugar. Far worse, the "something else" that she added in a large quantity was baking soda. I didn't realize just how much she had put in until I asked her to pass the baking soda to me so I could add it to my batter. 

"It's all gone," she said. "I used it all."
"You used ALL of it!?!" (There had been about 1/4 cup of baking soda in the container.)
"Uh-huh," Rachel answered as she contentedly used a teaspoon to measure out the flour.

Needless to say, I used this teachable moment to share with her which ingredients get measured by the cupfuls and which ones...like baking soda...get measured with a teaspoon.

Rachel was far enough along with her batter that I let her finish up and bake it, even though I knew the result would not be what she hoped for. Before popping it in the oven, we added more sugar and some cinnamon in an attempt to doctor it up a bit. 

I must say that her cake looks good. It rose nicely. It seems to have a pretty good texture. But the TASTE! Um...I don't think either of us will be eating much of it.

The problem, of course, is that she did not use the right balance of ingredients in her cake. She used too much of something that should have been added in small amounts, and not enough of an ingredient that should have been added in a larger quantity. Her balance was off, and it had a negative effect on the outcome.

We need balance in our lives, too. How are we doing with that? Many "ingredients" make up our lives.

• Work, play, rest
• Time with family, time with friends, time with God
• Church commitments, social commitments, service commitments
• Cooking and cleaning
• Yard work and maintenance
• Social networking, blogging, other computer-related activities
• Music and reading 
• Sports and fitness
• TV and games
• The list goes on

Which of these "ingredients" should rightfully be added in small amounts, like baking soda? Which, like sugar, should get a more generous portion in the recipe? Which are essential? Which are optional? What is the right balance?

A life out-of-balance is not enjoyed by anyone. Not the person living it. Not the people who are impacted by the imbalance. This kind of life may look good to those who don't get too close. To those who interact with it every day, however, it is a bitter experience.

A life in balance is a life that can be enjoyed. The person living such a life enjoys a life of peace. Others enjoy being around a person who lives a balanced life. It is attractive. It is delicious (so to speak).  It is a sweet experience.

I wonder...what kind of a life do I live? Is it a delicious dump cake life or a bitter baking soda cake life?

I know which kind of life I want to live. What about you?

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness... 

Matthew 6:33b (NASB)

A Harley Junior Story Revisited

As Rachel and I read a devotional and Bible passage before bedtime tonight, we were asked to reflect on a time when we experienced God's protection. The story I shared was an obvious choice.

Harley Junior and I on a ministry trip in the mountains.

Back in August of last year, I wrote a post about a hair-raising experience I had on my motorbike several years earlier. As I reflected on that experience, I saw a parallel to situations we face in everyday life when temptation speeds our way, and we think we have no way out.

I think....hope...I have more readers now than I did back in August, so I will share the story again.

You can find the story by clicking this link.  Harley Junior and I Find a Way of Escape.

"Let Us Go With You"

Early last month, I had to make a trip to Singapore. I got out my smallest suitcase and began packing.  Rachel removed the things I had already put in and climbed into the suitcase herself. 

"Mommy, let me go with you," she said. "When can I ever go to Singapore?" Needless to say, Rachel knows she cannot possibly pack herself in my suitcase and go along. She just wanted to be with her Mom.

Her words, though, remind me of a verse in Zechariah that leapt off the page at me a number of years ago.

In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.  (Zechariah 8:23b NASB)

So Sweet Blogger Award

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Last month, a fellow blogger, Amber-Lee Dibble of Alaska Chick’s Blog nominated me for a “Sweet Blogger” award. I saw just today that Sandy Sandmeyer from the "Uncompromising" blog named me for the same award. Having been nominated twice, I guess I ought to get busy and pass on the nomination.

According to the “rules” I am supposed to answer five sweet questions, and then name a baker’s dozen (13) other bloggers for the So Sweet Blogger Award. This award doesn’t involve any contest or judging. It’s just a way to pass around a bit of love for other bloggers who we enjoy reading.

I NEED to Sleep

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I love reading books aloud to my daughter. The home school curriculum we use has a lot of read-alouds in it. 

I have been a book lover from the time I was able to make sense of written words, so I thoroughly enjoy this part of the program. I enjoy curling up with Rachel over a good book and making it come alive as I read it.

That "coming alive" fun, however, doesn't always happen. One day earlier this week, I was reading one of these books to Rachel, and my habit of working until way too late at night caught up with me. 

I Don't Like That Mask

When Rachel was about three years old, she was very sensitive to certain parts of the culture here that do not come from God. One of these things is the barong masks that you see in many places around the island of Bali.

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The barong is quite an ugly, fanged creature with bulging eyes that is supposed to be one of the “good guys” in Balinese folklore, as opposed to Rangda the witch, a creature who is even uglier. Whenever we passed one of these barong figures, Rachel would hide her face. "I don't like that mask!" she would cry.

Most Balinese children have become so used to seeing this character that they don’t think twice about it. But Rachel had not yet lost her sensitivity to it. 

Of course, I reassured her that it is OK not to like the mask, but she doesn’t need to be afraid of it. By now, at age seven, she has figured that out. She still doesn't like it, but it doesn't terrify her.

I Just Published a New eBook

"What will we do for Easter?"

At this time of the year, many churches are making plans for special services For Good Friday and Easter. Large churches are probably already in the process of organizing a major event. There may be some churches, youth groups, or church-based dance ministries that are still asking themselves that question. "What will we do for Easter?"

Find on Amazon and Smashwords

If you belong to a group that is asking that very question, my new ebook, Winning Back My Beloved, may be just what you are looking for.


What is this story about? Here it is in a nutshell.

This is a love story. You have a King. You have his Beloved. You have an Enemy. The Enemy entices the Beloved away from the King. The King will do anything, even sacrifice himself, to win her back.

The dance/drama described in this ebook does not require a large budget. It does not require a large cast. It is performed by three dancers. The music can be in whatever genre best fits your group. It can be original or compiled from selections of already-recorded music. This ebook lists the music I am currently using as an example.